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Hannahan seeking consistency to snap slump

Hannahan seeking consistency to snap slump

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050212 Jack Hannahan

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SEATTLE -- Jack Hannahan does not believe there is one specific problem that has resulted in a hitting slump that has its roots in late April. The Indians third baseman feels a mix of issues have led to his inconsistency.

Shortly before heading to the indoor batting cage at Safeco Field before Monday's game, Hannahan discussed his four-month skid. The third baseman cited inconsistent playing time, less action against lefty pitchers, team-wide offensive issues and bad luck as possible explanations.

"It's a good question," Hannahan said. "That's what I've been working on. I think I've always been a player that, when I play consistently, I produce. When I came back from the [back] injury [in mid-June], I was in kind of a platoon situation where I'd play a couple days and sit a couple days.

"And when an offense doesn't produce like it should, you tend to try too hard. You start pressing. When I came back from my injury, I was hitting the ball hard, I was having good at-bats, I just wasn't getting hits. Whenever you do that, you tend to try harder, which is probably the worst thing you can do."

Hannahan (216 at-bats) had the most playing time at third base, entering Monday, but he has split time at various points with Jose Lopez, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Donald and Brent Lillibridge. Overall, the lefty-hitting Hannahan has posted a .222 average with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 79 games for the Indians this season.

Last season, Hannahan hit .250 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 110 games for Cleveland, and he finished with a flourish. The third baseman -- known mostly for his strong defense -- hit .368 over his final 25 games.

Hannahan seemed to pick up where he left off at the start of this year, hitting .364 in his first 13 games. Since then, however, Hannahan hit at a .188 clip over his last 66 games entering Monday. He had a .175 average in 48 games since returning from his lower back injury and a .100 mark over his past 10 games.

"I think a lot of it is just trying to do too much," Hannahan said. "I'm trying to get back to basics. It's been frustrating to not be able to get back to it. But, it's just baseball. Sometimes you hit balls at people and they don't fall in. It's important not to get too high or too low and just keep battling through it."